The excitement from the announcement that the classic stage show Chicago will finally be gracing a Canberra stage is yet to die down. Helping to bring All That Jazz to Canberra Theatre Centre on 7-29 September as gullible and sensitive Amos Hart is beloved Australian performer Peter Rowsthorn.

“It is a small role, I sing one song and I’m in a few scenes here and there, but it is the only character in the play that walks away kind of a hero, and the audience loves him for it in the end,” says Peter.

Having never seen the musical on stage or watched the movie, Peter didn’t know much about the story ahead of auditioning for the role. However, it didn’t take long for the play to charm and dazzle him.

“I love that it is based on a true story. There’s two women who have gone to jail for murders which they committed, their lawyer gets them off and they both always wanted to be famous.”

The musical is based on the play of the same name written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a reporter who was tasked with covering the trials of accused murderers Belva Gaertner and Beulah Sheriff Annan in 1924. Chicago in the mid-1920s had a reputation for letting beautiful women off, even for the most heinous of crimes.

Although not an entirely accurate retelling, the musical follows the murder trials, turning defences and evidence into incredibly catchy tunes like We Both Reached for the Gun. Gaertner, a cabaret singer who Dallas Watkins dubbed the ‘Most Stylish of Murderess Row’, became Velma Kelly, while Sheriff Annan, who the writer referred to as the ‘Beauty of the Cellblock’, became Roxie Hart.

“It’s all about 15 minutes of fame and the desperation to become famous no matter what, which resonates today a little bit given digital media and TikTok,” says Peter.

Inspired by Beulah Annan’s real-life husband who paid her lawyer’s fees and diligently stood by her side at the trial, Peter says Amos is similar to another character he has played.

“Amos is a bit like a 1920s version of Brett from Kath and Kim, he’s just married the wrong person, is deeply in love and can’t see any of their faults. He is more innocent than Brett, much more of a victim.”

A character in the iconic Aussie show isn’t a bad one to have as your defining role, Peter saw Brett as the audience, always reacting to the Kath and Kim themselves.

“I didn’t say a lot, but I always reacted well…It is really nice to be part of something right, it is right on the money. Because it sits in its own world, it is not dating. It’s got its own thing.”

Along with a defining role and a lifetime supply of good memories with great performers, Peter had hoped to take home a rugby shirt from the show but was unfortunately not allowed.

“It has all been stored away somewhere. I always thought I was gonna open a bar that had all the stuff – old photos of Kath & Kim – and call it Bretties. Have some of the kooky jumpers and old earrings behind glass,” he smiles.

Type-casting wasn’t a factor, Peter’s roles in theatre have been different to those he played on screen. A long stretch in the ’90s saw Peter take on Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show for 500 odd shows.

Grateful to have been constantly in the business for 40 years, Peter is a drama teacher by trade but has never taught as his career took off.

“In the end, you throw your net out and see what comes in; some it has been radio, TV, live theatre and some film…I like doing live theatre the most I think, I like the control of it, I like the immediacy of it.”

Stand-up is Peter’s other love; he says it is one that not that many people stick with long term and even less enjoy doing the corporate event roster like he does. The most empowering of the performance spectrum, he says is a real skill in getting a stand-up set right.

“You get used to being loved if you do clubs and if you’re on telly or theatre shows. Whereas in stand-up comedy you have to make it happen, especially in that corporate environment, they haven’t come to see you, you’re put upon them, and they can decide whether they wish to laugh at you or not laugh at you.”

The skill of reading a room and making a character your own also come in handy on the stage, Peter didn’t watch anyone else’s rendition of Amos before hitting the stage. Uncovering where Amos sits in the story amongst the different players, Peter took an organic approach and worked it out on the floor. With such an incredible cast, it didn’t take long to figure it out.

“I am lucky to be Anthony Warlow who not only has a beautiful world-class voice, he also has really good acting chops…Every night is a little bit different and a little bit real, we keep it in that ballpark. It hasn’t become boring even after 250 shows,” Peter says.

Experience the theatre extravaganza that is Chicago at Canberra Theatre Centre on 7-29 September; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

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